WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 13: Kneel

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“...But if word spreads that he was killed by an assassin, won’t that be bad for us too?”

“Even so, it will stop him from muddying the waters.”

Yi Won was not sure whether that was worth it. To be honest, he did not understand why they had to kill Yi Do.

No matter how rotten Yi Do’s personality was, he still bore the Yi surname.

They could use him as a blade for the Yi Clan somehow, so why were they so wary of him?

“Now that things have turned out this way, that plan will be put on hold. It is fine. Once this matter is resolved, Yi Do will be as good as dead anyway.”

Yi Won nodded awkwardly. Then a thought occurred to him.

Could it be...

“Could Yi Do have attacked the Sang-un Trading Company?”

Lady Yun, who had remained serious throughout, burst out laughing.

“This boy can make his mother laugh now. The person who attacked the Sang-un Trading Company was Yi Do? Ha, do you honestly think that makes sense?”

“...But it does not seem impossible.”

“No. It is impossible. Do you know who Hyeong Jeong-mun, the Meteor Sword, is?”

Not in detail.

“As a descendant of the fallen Jeomchang Sect, Hyeong Jeong-mun’s martial prowess is only at the early stage of the Four Qi-Cultivation Realms. Even so, fewer than ten people in Suju County can rival Hyeong Jeong-mun. Hyeong Jeong-mun has already surpassed the Twin Sun Manifestation and is setting his sights on the Five Dragons Honoring the Sage. Had nothing happened, Hyeong Jeong-mun would have reached the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown within ten years.”

Lady Yun continued.

“Yi Do, who only recently reached the Circulation Realm, killed someone like that? Even if his astounding talent for martial arts and genius for fighting made it possible, do you think it makes sense for him to escape from there?”

Yi Won thought it was possible. But his mother’s next words changed his mind.

“The witnesses said the intruder vanished while stepping through the air.”

“Surely... you mean Air-Treading Steps?”

“Even from the descriptions alone, it was clearly Air-Treading Steps, said to be used by martial artists of the Creation Realm or higher. They also said the intruder performed Void Crossing. The way the intruder moved this way and that through the air was so wondrous that they even called it beautiful. In other words, an absurdly powerful master attacked the Sang-un Trading Company. Do you understand now why I do not believe it was Yi Do?”

Yi Won had no choice but to nod.

“Yes. I completely understand, Mother.”

“Good. Then remain on guard for the time being. Once we investigate what caused this and resolve the matter, we will carry out the things we have postponed.”

“Yes.”

* * *

As I trained, I thought and thought again.

I died roughly thirty years from now.

A great many things happened over those thirty years.

To put it bluntly, I did not remember everything that had happened during that time.

I would run away from the Yi Clan in about three months.

After that, I heard what happened to the Yi Clan through rumors.

It was disastrous.

First, Clan Head Yi Se-geuk suffered a qi deviation while training, leaving him bedridden and barely able to walk. Naturally, Yi Jeong, the eldest son, received Yi Se-geuk’s seal and became the new clan head.

Afterward, Yi Jeong claimed that Yi Se-geuk had actually been poisoned and named Yi Won as the culprit.

Yi Won, Lady Yun, the General Steward and servants who followed them, even the hired porters.

He arrested every last one of them, then tortured them again and again.

In the end, Yi Won and Lady Yun confessed that they had poisoned Yi Se-geuk. Yi Jeong immediately led every warrior in the clan to attack the Yun Clan.

Naturally, he absorbed all their trading companies, pleasure houses, and inns, then killed every member of the Yun Clan, including Yi Won.

When it came to excessive brutality, those people had no right to criticize me.

Looking at how things were going now, either Lady Sang or Yi Jeong had definitely poisoned Yi Se-geuk.

The two could not be considered separately in the first place, so it was safe to assume they did it together.

Yi Won and Lady Yun had clearly been framed. Honestly, no matter how ruthless Lady Yun or Yi Won tried to be, they were not ruthless enough to poison the clan head.

That gave me a rough picture of what had happened.

The important thing, though, was the timing.

Too much had already changed from the past I knew.

The clan head being poisoned was supposed to happen about a year from now, but it would not be strange if it happened tomorrow.

I did not even consider the possibility that it would not happen.

The reason he took Cheonhwa Pavilion and gave it to Yi Jeong was not because he intended to make Yi Jeong the Young Clan Head.

It was because of the relationship with the Sang-un Trading Company and, on a larger scale, the Yi Clan’s interests.

Clan Head Yi Se-geuk was a man without any principles.

His convictions were entirely subjective. Even if he established rules, he would never follow them himself.

That was the kind of person he was.

Until recently, I had thought that he was still my father, and since I was starting a new life, should I not at least keep him from dying?

That was what I thought.

Not anymore. He could die for all I cared.

I was not interested.

I would take what I needed and quietly leave Jangnyeong County.

That was when I sensed something.

I slowly opened my eyes.

Someone stood outside the door.

“Ahem, youngest. Do you have a moment?”

Judging by the voice, it was Yi Won, the second son.

“Yes, I do. Come in.”

The door opened, and Yi Won entered with a tense expression. He kept looking around as though he were part of some secret society. His grim determination was particularly striking.

Yi Won approached me.

“Well, it is a little embarrassing to say this so late at night.”

He hesitated for a long time, so I quietly asked,

“Is there something you wish to tell me?”

“...Yes. Something very important.”

“No one is nearby. Do not worry. Go ahead.”

Yi Won said something I never could have imagined, even in my dreams.

“...I was the one who told Chief Steward Jeong to bring the elixir pills.”

That raised a question.

“It is truly shameful that, as your elder brother, I have shown you nothing but my pathetic side.”

Huh.

I could not even laugh. What was wrong with this bastard all of a sudden?

“Yi Do.”

“Yes.”

“...I am sorry.”

I blinked.

I could not help it. The words were one thing, but his actions were an even bigger problem.

Yi Won had fallen to his knees.

“For everything I did to torment you, for cornering you and making your life difficult, I apologize for all of it.”

“Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“...To be honest, I need you.”

I lowered my gaze to Yi Won, who remained on his knees. He continued.

“I will not deny it. You have talent in martial arts. You likely received no proper support, yet you reached the Circulation Realm at such a young age. You may think me selfish or vile. You would be right. But my wish to apologize to you is sincere.”

Just as I was about to say something, he spoke again.

“Judge how sincere I am by what I am about to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Lady Sang is plotting something.”

“A plot?”

“She plans to hire the Assassin Fortress to kill you.”

My brow twitched.

“The request is to kill Yi Do, the third son of the Yi Clan, by any means necessary. It is a special-grade request. She intends to pay one hundred gold taels.”

“Are you certain?”

“I am. But she will not act immediately. Someone attacked the Sang-un Trading Company, so she has financial troubles now. I overheard a conversation earlier. She said she would submit the request as soon as this matter was settled. She is even considering selling her valuables if she lacks the money. Do you understand how sincere I am now?”

I laughed.

Yi Won continued.

“If I have not misjudged you, you have no desire for the clan head’s position. Is that correct?”

“You saw correctly. I have little interest in such a position.”

Still kneeling, Yi Won raised his head and looked directly at me.

“Then what do you say to making me the clan head?”

With my hands behind my back, I silently watched Yi Won.

He flinched under my gaze, swallowed hard, and spoke.

“If Yi Jeong becomes clan head, the Yi Clan will collapse in no time. Does that two-faced idiot have any business sitting in the clan head’s seat? I do not know whether you care about the Yi Clan’s future, but if you make me clan head, I will give you everything you want.”

“How do you know what I want?”

“Whatever it is, I will obtain it. If it is beyond my ability, it may be difficult, but I will still do everything within my power. Yi Do. No, youngest.”

“Yes.”

“Help me.”

I silently watched Yi Won.

He did seem sincere.

For a moment, I expanded my senses.

There really was no one nearby.

I gave it some thought.

Me becoming the head of a clan? I would do it if necessary, but did I really have to?

Training alone was already overwhelming. I intended to reclaim the martial strength of my previous life as soon as possible. Would I sit in the clan head’s seat doing paperwork and running trading companies?

It would be far better to set up an obedient puppet and only receive reports on important matters.

I slowly lowered myself onto one knee, matching Yi Won’s height.

Then I reached out and gripped his shoulder.

“You made the right choice.”

“...Then that means...”

“Yes. I will make you the clan head.”

Yi Won beamed, but then his expression froze. It was understandable. I tightened my grip hard on his shoulder.

I squeezed until his bones creaked.

“Remember this. Once you join hands with me, you must stay with me to the end. If you stab me in the back, I will do exactly as I told you before. Do you understand?”

Yi Won’s entire body twitched.

What I had told him before was that I would gouge out both his eyes while he was alive, tear apart his limbs, and remove his dantian.

“...Of course. Of course. Do not worry. Why would I betray you?”

I smiled faintly.

“Surely my second brother would not dare betray me unless he had gone mad. I only said it just in case. Now, please stand.”

Yi Won got to his feet. I brushed off his shoulders.

“How many troops can you gather immediately?”

“...Including twenty ordinary warriors, roughly fifty within the Yi Clan.”

“How many if you include the Yun Clan’s forces? Skip the ordinary warriors. Tell me only about martial artists at the Qi Entry Realm or higher.”

“...If you mean martial artists at the Qi Entry Realm, I can gather around forty. There are about two at the Circulation Realm.”

I thought for a moment.

If the Yun Clan’s forces were brought here right away, Lady Sang’s faction would notice. Hmm.

I gave Yi Won an instruction.

“I will decide the timing. Until then, keep your subordinates under control, and tell Second Mother to be careful with her words and actions. You must not do anything until the time I set arrives. Do you understand?”

Yi Won swallowed hard and nodded repeatedly.

“You look quite impressive. Your bearing is that of a clan head.”

“Is that so...? Thank you.”

A smile appeared on Yi Won’s lips as well.

It happened late into the night.

Footnotes:

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